Press

Salem, Mass. - The Tamagawa University Dance and Taiko Group brings its thunderous brand of taiko drumming to the Peabody Essex Museum with nearly 30 drummers and dancers. Since 1961 the group has amazed audiences the world over with its high-energy performances, using instruments that produce a striking and dramatic sound.

The Tamagawa performers introduce audiences to a vast repertoire featuring traditional Japanese dance and taiko drumming from several regions of Japan. Many of the dances represent themes such as harvest celebrations, paying respect to the gods and honoring ancestors. Several styles of dance are represented, including zashiki-mai, originally performed by geishas at a banquet, as well as dance typically seen in kabuki theater. Through their shows, the group hopes to build mutual understanding and foster international cultural exchange.

Program Details

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Tamagawa University Dance and Taiko Performance

1 pm | Atrium

3 pm | Morse Auditorium

The taiko drum performance at 1pm will be followed by an hour-long dance performance at 3 pm. Free with museum admission. Reservations by March 27 for Morse performance. Reservations can be made by calling 978-745-9500, ext. 3011. Made possible by the Lowell Institute.

Related Exhibitions Currently on View

Stage Idols, Japanese Kabuki Theater

Explore the connections between the different aspects of Japanese art and culture. PEM's new exhibition Stage Idols, Japanese Kabuki Theater, features a rotating selection of over forty 19th-century prints, including works by famed print designer Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1864), and rare kabuki-related objects, such as costumes, photographs and advertising signs. Curated by Midori Oka, PEM associate curator of Japanese art and culture, Stage Idols runs through Jan. 25, 2009.

About the Peabody Essex Museum

The Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. Our campus features numerous parks, period gardens and 24 historic properties, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States.